Jump trap



Oct. 22, 1929. c, WILLIAMS 1,733,040

JUMP TRAP Filed July 5, 1928 I 5 -5: gwve'ntoz 5 GCHWz'll/ams PatentedOct. 22, 1929 CHARLES H. wlurms, or GARNATION, WASHINGTON J UMP TBA]?Application filed July 3,

This invention relates to the class of trapping and pertainsparticularly to the class of jaw traps.

The primary object of this invention is to provide, in a manner, ashereinafter set forth, an attachment for jaw traps, making jump traps ofthe same, the attachment consisting of aspring element, means forsecuring the same to the jaw trap, and an improved trig- 1o germechanism operable simultaneously with the operation of the springing ofthe trap.

In trapping, numerous animals are lost through the fact that the trapswhich are set for them become embedded in mud or slightly frozen to theground thereby being retarded in their actions after being sprung, aportion ofthe spring strength being expended in extricating the trapfrom the mud or loosening it from the ground. \Vhen an animal coming outof water places a wet foot into a trap, it frequently escapes, firstbecause, of the fact that as soon as the trap begins to close the animalrapidly withdraws its foot and if the trapis frozen or in any way stuck,its closing operation will be so slow that the animals foot will be outof'the way before the jaws come together,

and second because of. the fact that the animals foot is slippery andeven thoughthe jaws might engage the foot the slipperiness of the samewill enable the animal to get it out before the full force of the springis exerted upon thejaws.

In view of .the foregoing, it will be readily seen that it is desirablethat some means be provided whereby an additional force is employed forlifting the trap from the ground to follow the animals foot as itwithdraws the same and to this end the present improved springprojecting attachment has been devised together with. the improvedcontrol trigger used in association with the spring.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spring and triggerstructure which may be attachedvto any jaw trap to convert the'same to ajump trap.

- The invention will be best understood from a consideration offithefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the ac- 1928.Serial H0. 290,062.

companying drawings forming part of this specification, with theunderstanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strictconformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed ormodified so long as such changes or modifications mark no materialdeparture from the salient fea tures of the invention as expressed inthe appended claims.

In the drawings Fig. isia top plan View of a trap equipped with the jumpspring structure embodying the present invention Fig. 2 is a sectlonalview taken upon the line 22 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan turned end of the trap base showing'the tachabletrigger applied thereto;

v yiew of the trap base showing the jump spring in set position Fig. 4isa sectional view through theup- Fig. 5 isa sectional view taken uponthe line 55 of Figure 4:.

Referring to the drawing in detail wherein like numerals of referenceindicate correspending parts throughout the several views,

the numeral 1 indicates generally a jaw trap of the usual design, the base portion thereof being indicated bythe numeral 2, the aws beingindicated at 3 and the spring control f ling the jaws being indicated at4:. The trig ger control mechanism for the jaws is indi cated as a wholeby the numeral 5. At its forward end, the base 2 is turned upwardly asat 6 and has pivoted therein, in f the usual manner, one end of each ofthe jaw members 3.

The trlgger mechanism embodying a 'por-' tion of the present inventioncomprises an oscillating bar 7 which is mounted in any suitable mannerupon t-he forward faceof the upturned portion-6 of the base as indicatedat 8, in the present instance the mounting for the bar comprising a bersof the type shown.

pair of eye mem- The bar extends transversely of the upturned portionand one end projects a substantial distance laterally and rearwardlyforming the curved arm 9 upon which one of the'trap jaw bears when thetrap is set.

The bar 7 carries the r1 members ght 'angularly eirin the substantiallyhorizontal tongue por-' tion 13.

At its other end, the jump spring 11 carries an attchin saddle which isindicated as a whole the numeral M by means of it is secured to the base2 of the trap.

This saddle carries a pair of depending ears.

2 15 between which the end otthe spring positions, this end being rolledto form a sleeve ldthrough whichsleeve and through the ears 15, thereextends a pivot pin 17. The saddle l i'also carries at each side edge afinger 18 2a which, when the saddle is placed in position over baseplate 2 of the trap. is bent under against the lower face. of the basetomaintain the spring in position. I This connection of the saddle withthetrap base 2 is made at 3 a point adjacent the other ends, of the trapjaws 3:,

In, the, use of the present invention, when the trap tjaws, are spreadapart to set the trap, the ree end of the jump spring is bent upwardlyand the trigger 1Q engaged in the slot 19.,which is formed in the.upturned portion 12 of the spring. This places the rearwardly curved,arm '9' of the trigger in a substantially horizontal position so thatwhen bear down upon this arm and will keep it in this position so longas the trap remains unsprung 'When an animal places his foot upon thetrigger mechanism 5. of the trap to, cause the. release of the trapjaws, the; arm 9 is simultaneously released, permitting the jump springto fly downwardly thereby kicking or causing the trap to jump into theair while the jaws of the trap are moving towards closed position, Inthis manner, even though the animal hastily attempt to withdraw his footfrom a position where. the jaws, of the trap would close thereon, the

trap will follow the foot upwardly and thus secure it.

is to be pointed out that with the pres.- v ent jump. spring structure,the activity of trap spring and of the jaws is in ne mapnerhinterferedwith, in fact, the jump spring. by normally acting to forcethe arm 9,upwardly assists in the movement of the trap jawstov closingpositi-onasvsoon as the trap trigger mechanism is released.

It will also be seen that with this structure, the spring may be readilyapplied 'to the jaws- 3, are spread, one of the jaws will or removedfrom any trap base, and in order to adapt it for use upon traps whichare not provided with the permanently mounted trigger 10, I haveprovided a detachable trigger member which is indicated as a whole bythe numeral 20 and shown in detail in Figure 4. This detachable triggercomprises a P ate 1 each n o w ithiis si to be bent inwardly asindicated at 22 so that when the plate is arranged across the outer faceor the-upturned end 6 of the trap base, the inturned ends will act tosecure the plate in position thereon.

A pair of spaced guides or bearings 23 is formed on the outer face ofthe plate 21 and through these bearings, the oscillating bar 2%lextends,one end of the bar beingextended a substantial distance laterally. andrearwardly forming the curved arm 25 while from the bar between thebearings 23 there extends the trigger 26 which, of course, acts. in thesame manner as the tri ger 1Q, above described. The applicatigm andoperationof this removable trigger is exactly the same. as tlzle fixedtrigger be readily under, stoo l By hingedly mounting-the jump spring 11upon the trap base 2, theanimal is prevented from catching the spring.inbrush or roots.

when it attempts'to drag the trap away.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that thestructure herein described, may be readily attached t0 lfi w trap andwill effectively operatev to liftthe trap from position when it issprung.

Having described my invention what I claim is:- i i 1. In combinationwith a trap havinga base, an elongated spring member secured at one endto the base against the under face thereof, an oscillating bar carriedupon the base, a finger carried by the bar for engaging Y saidspring tohold the same in set position, and an arm carried' by the bar anddesigned to be held in a predetermined position against the tension ofthe spring by onefof the jaws of the trap. when'the same. isset.

2. In combination with a jawv trap, include.

ing a base, a pair of jaws. pivotally mounted on v thebase and a spring,controlling. the jaws, a ump spring attached. at one. end to the. trapbase and having its other end extending beyond one end of the base,artrigger member comprising a bar-mountedtransversely of the base foroscillation thereon, means carried the bar for engagementwith theadjacent extended'end of'the jump sprin and an arm carried by the barand curving aterally tojbe held. by one of the trap jawsof the set trapbearing thereover to maintain the jump.

springundertension. I

3. In combinationwith a jaw traplinclud;

ing. a base, a pair of jaws pivotally mounted on the base and aspr'ingcontrollingthejaws,

a 1' mr sp a ehed t ne em! t the t p base and having its other endextending be yond one end of the base, a trigger member comprising a barmounted transversely of the base for oscillation thereon, means carriedby the bar for engagement with the adjacent extended end of the jumpspring, and an arm carried by the bar and curving laterally to be heldby one of the trap jaws of the set trap bearing thereover to maintainthe jump spring under tension, said jump spring being pivotally attachedto the trap base.

4. In combination with a jaw trap includ ing a base, jaw members carriedthereby, and a spring controlling the jaw members, an arcuate jumpspring, a saddle, a hinge connection between one end of said spring andsaid saddle, means for securing said saddle to the trap base, and atrigger element carried by the base and adapted to engage the jumpspring and in turn to be held in set position by one of the jaws of thetrap when the same is set.

5. A jump spring and control trigger attachment for a jaw trap having abase upturned at one end and having aws pivotal y mounted on the base,an elongated arcuate spring body, means for securing one end of the bodyto the trap base to position the other end thereof adjacent the upturnedend of the base, said spring having its free end upturned and providedwith a slot, a plate designed to be detachably mounted upon the upturnedend of the trap base, a bar mounted for oscillatory movement upon theplate, a

trigger finger carried by the bar and designed to engage in the slot inthe jump spring to maintain the spring in tensioned position,

and an arm carried by the oscillatory bar and designed to be held by oneof the jaws of the trap to maintain the trigger finger and jump springin set position.

6. In a trap structure of the character described, a spring elementsecured to the under face of the base of the trap, a trigger elementcarried by the base for engaging and holding said spring under tension,and means whereby, when the trap is set, one of the aws thereof willsecure the trigger against movement, the release of said jaws releasingthe trigger and permitting the spring to project the trap upwardly.

7. In combination with a jaw trap having a base, an elongated springmember secured at one end of the base against the under face thereof, atrigger member carried by the base and designed to hold the spring undertension when the trap is set, and means whereby one of the jaws of thetrap when in set position will act to maintain the trigger in engagementwith the tensioned spring.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

CHARLES H. WILLIAMS.

